Zakho to Build Iraq's Largest Park, Declared 'Cleanest City'
Zakho's top official declared it the cleanest city in Iraq and announced plans for two parks, including the country's largest. This green initiative is part of a "revolution" in services since Zakho became an independent administration under the KRG.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The Zakho Independent Administration will soon construct two major new parks, including one set to become the largest in all of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, its top official announced Tuesday, while declaring Zakho the cleanest city in the country as part of a "comprehensive revolution" in green initiatives.
The announcements were made by Gohdar Shekho, the Supervisor of the Zakho Independent Administration, during the "A Step Towards a Green City" conference, a two-day event concluding today that aims to protect the environment and significantly increase green spaces in the burgeoning administrative area.
In his speech, Shekho delivered the "good news" of the ambitious new projects. "We have decided to build two large parks to increase the amount of green space and attract tourists," he stated. "One of them will cover an area of nearly one thousand donums and will be the largest park in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region."
He further detailed that the second park will transform the city's old industrial area into a new green space of about 400 donums. "Work is currently underway on this project, and we have several other projects in our plans to increase the amount of green space in our region," Shekho added.
The conference, organized in coordination with the Kurdistan Foundation, is a cornerstone of the administration's environmental focus. On its first day, 40 young people were trained on methods to protect and expand local greenery. The final day features a series of panels with university professors and youth to further discuss strategies for environmental protection.
Shekho credited the establishment of the independent administration by the ninth cabinet of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) for paving the way for these developments. "Since the Zakho Independent Administration was established by the decision of Masrour Barzani, the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, a comprehensive revolution has begun in all various fields, especially in environmental protection and increasing the amount of green space," he said.
He emphasized that prioritizing the environment has been a key point on the KRG’s ninth cabinet agenda. This has been actioned in Zakho with the opening of dedicated Directorates of Environment and Parks, staffed by experts and specialists. Shekho noted a significant shift in methodology, pointing out that before the administration was formed, "most of the gardens and trees in Zakho were created and planted incorrectly, which caused them to perish and dry up in a short time." He confidently stated, "we have entered a new phase in this regard."
This new phase, according to the supervisor, has yielded remarkable results. "Zakho is the cleanest city in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, and this is the result of the continuous efforts of all decision-makers, dedicated people, and religious scholars of our independent administration," Shekho declared. "A revolution was truly started, and the people were told, 'Enough is enough, we must protect our environment.'"
He also asserted that "in the past three years, the most trees in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region have been planted within the Zakho Independent Administration," which has directly led to cleaner air and a significant increase in green space. This success, he noted, is bolstered by strong public awareness. "What we are very proud of is that whenever any person or tourist comes to the Zakho Independent Administration and tries to pollute the environment, our own people have environmental awareness and prevent them from doing so," he said.
The administration’s commitment to greenery is also being codified into urban planning. Shekho announced that, in coordination with the presidency of municipalities, it has been decided "that for any investment project implemented in Zakho, special attention must be given to the amount of green space within the project, and it must not be neglected in any way."
The establishment of the Zakho Independent Administration on September 20, 2021, was a key step by the KRG’s ninth cabinet to devolve administrative powers. This decision has spurred significant development, with nearly 300 large and small projects implemented with a budget exceeding 290 billion dinars. The administrative expansion has been substantial, with 7 new general directorates established, 17 departments upgraded to directorates, and 16 entirely new directorates opened in the area.
